Adjustable-contour cam



Jan. 31, 1961 R. B. IMMEL 2,969,693

ADJUSTABLE-CONTOUR CAM Original Filed June 24, 1957 2 Sheets-Sheet 2United States Patent O ADJUSTABLE-CONT OUR CAM Ralph B. Imme],Williamsville, N.Y., assignor to Westinghouse Electric Corporation, EastPittsburgh, Pa., a corporation of Pennsylvania Original application June24, 1957, Ser. No. 667,632,

now Patent No. 2,887,901, dated May 26, 1959. Divided and thisapplication Mar. 20, 1958, Ser. No. 722,780

1 Claim. (Cl. 74-568) This invention relates to an adjustable camdesigned for an electrical selector-switch, but which is of generalutility for use in cam-mechanisms of all kinds, either as a single cam,or on a shaft carrying a plurality of cams which are designed to operateduring different portions of the rotation of the shaft, either foreffecting a pinrality of mechanical operations at predetermined timesand in a preselected sequence, or for similarly operating a plurality ofcam-switches, or a plurality of snap-action switches, or for engaging aplurality of electrical contacts after the manner of a drum-controller.This case is a division of my United States Letters Patent No.2,887,901, issued May 26, 1959, and entitled Adjustable- Contour Cam.

The purpose of this invention is to provide a novel, compact, low-costmeans for changing or adjusting a camcontour.

A fundamental feature of this adjustable-contour cam is the combinationof a basic cylindrical matrix having a plurality of circularly spaced,axially extending openings therein, and a plurality ofcam-segment-forming elements which are removably securable in anyselected openings.

Exemplary forms of embodiment of this invention are shown on an enlargedscale in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is an elevational view showing an assembly of a cam and asnap-switch which could function as one circuit of a multi-circuitselector switch in accordance with this invention;

Fig. 2 is a similar view of the same parts, showing the cam rotated 45to depress the switch-plunger;

Figs. 3 and 4 are end and side elevational views of a completeselector-switch assembly such as would utilize this invention;

' Figs. 5 and 6 are end and side elevational views of a face-plate typeof 8-point cam-matrix, having a plurality of circularly spaced, axiallyextending holes through the face-plate, these holes being adapted toreceive the axially removable pronged ends of a plurality of removablecam-rollers, Fig. 5 being a view of the right-hand end of Fig. 6;

Figs. 7 and 8 are side and end views of one of the laterally prongedrollers which are adapted to be used with the matrix of Figs. 5 and 6,Fig. 8 being a view of the left-hand end of Fig. 7; and

Fig. 9 is an end view of an assembled 7-point cam using the matrix ofFigs. 5 and 6 and seven of the camrollers of Figs. 7 and 8.

It will be understood that while my illustrations show a cam-matrix witheight points, the design is flexible and can be made for more or fewerpoints, as may be desired.

Figs. 1 and 2 are transverse or end-elevational views showing acam-shaft 1 carrying a cam 2 for actuating the plunger 3 of any suitablesnap-action switch 4, which may be of any suitable type, such, forexample, as that Nice which is shown in Patent No. 2,773,144, grantedDecember 4, 1956 to Martin Wibell and myself.

Figs. 3 and 4 show a typical selector-switch assembly in which acam-shaft 1 carries seven cams 2A to 2G, which operate sevensnap-switches 4Ato 4G, some of which are mounted above the cams, andsome below the cams. The snap-switches are illustrated as beingseparated by insulating barriers 5. The front panel-plate 6 of theassembly is shown as being marked with an offposition and sevenon-positions, the latter being numbered from 1 to 7, to show thepositions of a pointerknob 8 which is mounted on the end of thecam-shaft 1.

My present invention relates more particularly to the construction ofone of the cams 2 such as are adapted for use in the switch-assembliesof Figs. 1 to 4, or for any other uses to which cams may be put.

Figs. 5 to 9 show an embodiment of an add-a-roller cam-assembly. Thisassembly requires a lateral space, rather than a radial space, for theinsertion and removal of the rollers, as will be apparent as thedescription thereof proceeds.

.Thus, Figs. 5 and 6 show a basic matrix 40 having a hub-portion 22 atits right end, a cylindrical hub-member 41 to the left of thehub-portion 22 and having a considerably larger transverse dimensionthan the hubportion 22, and a cylindrical face-plate 42 of a largerdiameter than the transverse dimension of said hubmember 41, at the leftend of said hub-member 41. The cylindrical face-plate 42 of the basicmatrix 40 of Figs. 5 and 6 has eight, or any other desired number ofcircularly spaced, axially extending holes 43 therethrough.

The word cylindrical as used herein means a surface generated by a linemoving parallel to itself. The hub-portion 22 and the hub-member 41 haveouter surface contours generated by a line moving parallel to the axisof the basic matrix 40.

Figs. 7 and 8 show one of a plurality of cam-segmentforming rollers 44,which are adapted for use with matrix 40 of Figs. 5 and 6. Asillustrated, each roller 44 has, at one end, a plurality of resilient,laterally extending prongs 45, which are adapted to extend through, andto removably engage, one of the holes 43 in the cylindrical matrix 42 ofFigs. 5 and 6. The engagement of the prongs 45 within the holes 43 is ofsuch a gripping nature as to removably retain the roller 44 in place,with its pronged end abutting against the side of the faceplate 42 ofthe matrix. This gripping engagement of the plungers in the holes may beof any suitable nature, such as a simple frictional engagement, or amore positive barb-ended engagement, such as can be provided by thebarbed ends 46 of the prongs 45, as shown in Fig. 7. In this manner, therollers 44, such as are shown in Figs. 7 and 8, are removably securablein any selected holes 43 of the matrix 4042 of Figs. 5 and 6.

In the matrix-design, which is shown in Figs. 5 and 9, the cylindricalhub-member 41 has an outer peripheral contour that forms saddle-likeseats for the cylindrical portions of the rollers 44. These saddle-likeseats thus provide a backing for the rollers-44 so that the radiallyinwardly directed pressure on the rollers, during operation of the cam,will not subject the prongs to a radial pressure which might tend topull the resilient prongs 45 out of the holes 43.

In the preferred form of construction of this invention,

all of the separate parts of the adjustable-contour cam vantage.However, "this invention is not limited to nylon, or to any otherplastic material, or to an insulating material. It is quite conceivablethat the segment-forming members 44 could be made of a conductingmaterial, and could complete an electric circuit by making connectionwith one or more stationary brushes or 'conta'ct members. The matrixalso could "conceivably be fabridated from a metallic spring-material.

.In general, while one preferred construction is illustrated anddescribed, it is to be understood that this invehtion, in its more basicprinciples, is not limited to these details.

I claim as my invention.

An adjustable-contour cam, comprising, a basic matrix having an axis andhaving a cylindrical hub-member and a cylindrical face plate of larger'diametr'ic dimefis'io'n than said hub-member at one end of said'hlib-rriember, both having their outer peripheral surfacessymmetrically disposed with respect to said axis, said cylindricalface-plate having a plurality of circularly spaced, axially extendinghole's therethrough, and a plurality 'of camsegment-forming elementseach made of a somewhat elastic material, such as solid nylon, eachcam-segmentforming element having a cylindrical portion and a pinralityof resilient, laterally extending circularly and radially spaced prongs,each prong being provided with a radially projecting ridge at its end,said prongs being adapted to extend through said holes with the ridgesholding the prongs against axial movement in the holes, whereby saidplurality of 'carn'-segrr1ent-forming elements are each removablysecurable in any selected hole, the outer peripheral surface of saidhub-member being shaped to form saddle-like seats for the cylindricalportion of each of said cam-segr'nent-forming elements to thus receivethe radial thrust on said cam-segment-forming elements during operation.

References Cited in the file of this paterit UNITED STATES PATENTS1,145,337 Street July 6, 1915 1,830,460 Berge s Nov. 3, 1931 1,859,119Mitchell a Mar. 22, r93; 2,163,364 Bissell June 27, 1939 2,418,757Collins Apr. 8, 1947

